Actor James Cromwell Sentenced To Jail For New York Power Plant Protest

Oscar-nominated actor James Cromwell was sentenced to seven days in jail for his refusal to pay fines related to his arrest at a protest at a Wawayanda, N.Y., power plant in December 2015.

Cromwell and five other environmental activists, who dubbed themselves the “Wawayanda Six,” were arrested on Dec. 18, 2015, after staging a sit-in at a natural-gas-fired power plant set to begin operations in February 2018.

The protesters said their actions, which caused a traffic jam on Route 6, were justified because the power plant’s carbon emissions would accelerate climate change and pose an imminent threat to the local environment.

All six were found guilty of obstructing traffic on June 7 and each was ordered to pay a total of $375 in fines, due by Thursday.